Having gone viral on social media, French author Jessie Auryann's book Corps à cœur (Body to Heart) has sparked controversy. Classified in the highly popular ‘dark romance’ category, the novelist depicts paedophile acts that have traumatised some readers who have purchased it. A petition is calling for its immediate withdrawal.
https://www.cnews.fr/culture/2026-0...vre-vantant-la-pedocriminalite-fait-polemique (A)
How far does creative freedom go? Dark Romance, a genre that is very popular with teenage girls, now occupies a prominent place on bookshop shelves. It is a literary category that combines eroticism and abusive relationships, sometimes going so far as to promote rape culture, and whose pages find their way into the hands of middle and high school girls. Recently, Jessie Auryann's book Corps à cœur caused a stir, provoking an outcry among readers who are fans of the genre.
Although preceded by the warning ‘Attention: this is a Dark Romance for mature audiences only’ on the Amazon platform where it is sold, the novel by the French author, who is herself a mother, has been the subject of numerous calls for censorship from readers and many internet users who have heard about the controversial book on TikTok.
A book glorifying paedophilia
The blurb on the back cover gives no hint of the horror that awaits the reader once they turn the first few pages: "Arkhan dared to reject me and impose a part of himself that is growing inside me. But he never imagined for a second that he had given me the key to get him back. He is so righteous that he will not be able to resist the call of his daughter. I just have to wait to give birth to this being who will bring him back to me." And yet, this unborn child turns out to be one of the protagonists of a sordid story, where darkness and abomination are revealed under the guise of a very popular literary genre.
In her biography on the Babelio website, author Jessie Auryann makes no secret of it: she distils the worst vicissitudes of the human soul in each of her works. ‘My stories are built around uncomfortable situations and sensitive subjects, seeking out what we don't want to discover. I play with society's taboos and talk about what we want to keep quiet,’ she wrote on the literature platform.
‘I don't hesitate to provoke disturbing and tortured scenes. And of course, I don't necessarily condone what I'm going to write, but I don't stop myself from writing the unbearable either,’ added the author, at the centre of an uproar over her latest novel, Corps à coeur. From the very first pages, the unhealthy setting is established: ‘In this story, you will encounter sensitive subjects such as death, mental illness, manipulation, suicide, abuse, paedophilia, incest, physical and psychological violence, rape, death, torture and prostitution.’
‘I felt like throwing up’
The author has deeply shocked readers and crossed the boundaries of what is acceptable, according to numerous comments on sales platforms and content posted on social media mentioning the novel. ‘This author romanticises the rape of infants. This is not prevention but a collection for paedophiles and the mentally ill. The excerpts I read traumatised me so much because they were so detailed and violent, I felt like vomiting,’ shared one of the readers.
‘It's shameful that someone could write such scenes! I cried when I read the excerpts on social media. We fight against rape and abuse of any kind. The author has children herself, how could she imagine such a thing?’ wrote one internet user who had access to a few pages of the novel shared on TikTok.
Calling for its immediate removal from online retailers, where it is available for €25, a petition has been launched on Change.org and has since gathered more than 18,000 signatures [now 31,000]. ‘Jessie Auryann's book Corps à Cœur crosses an ethical and legal red line that requires immediate action,’ reads the online petition platform.
"The book contains descriptions and scenes that directly conflict with French law. Article 227-23 of the Penal Code: the law severely punishes the dissemination of any pornographic representation of minors. The use of fiction to normalise or eroticise relationships involving minors constitutes a serious breach of public order," states the petition launched on Sunday 22 February.
Despite widespread criticism, the author nevertheless enjoys some support, particularly on her Facebook page.
Here's what she posted:
Attached is an excerpt in French found on Xitter that I will not translate. It narrates the rape of a baby. It is very blunt and unambiguous.
The book has since been heavily criticised on Amazon, where more excerpts have been shared.
Btw:
https://www.cnews.fr/culture/2026-0...vre-vantant-la-pedocriminalite-fait-polemique (A)
How far does creative freedom go? Dark Romance, a genre that is very popular with teenage girls, now occupies a prominent place on bookshop shelves. It is a literary category that combines eroticism and abusive relationships, sometimes going so far as to promote rape culture, and whose pages find their way into the hands of middle and high school girls. Recently, Jessie Auryann's book Corps à cœur caused a stir, provoking an outcry among readers who are fans of the genre.
Although preceded by the warning ‘Attention: this is a Dark Romance for mature audiences only’ on the Amazon platform where it is sold, the novel by the French author, who is herself a mother, has been the subject of numerous calls for censorship from readers and many internet users who have heard about the controversial book on TikTok.
A book glorifying paedophilia
The blurb on the back cover gives no hint of the horror that awaits the reader once they turn the first few pages: "Arkhan dared to reject me and impose a part of himself that is growing inside me. But he never imagined for a second that he had given me the key to get him back. He is so righteous that he will not be able to resist the call of his daughter. I just have to wait to give birth to this being who will bring him back to me." And yet, this unborn child turns out to be one of the protagonists of a sordid story, where darkness and abomination are revealed under the guise of a very popular literary genre.
In her biography on the Babelio website, author Jessie Auryann makes no secret of it: she distils the worst vicissitudes of the human soul in each of her works. ‘My stories are built around uncomfortable situations and sensitive subjects, seeking out what we don't want to discover. I play with society's taboos and talk about what we want to keep quiet,’ she wrote on the literature platform.
‘I don't hesitate to provoke disturbing and tortured scenes. And of course, I don't necessarily condone what I'm going to write, but I don't stop myself from writing the unbearable either,’ added the author, at the centre of an uproar over her latest novel, Corps à coeur. From the very first pages, the unhealthy setting is established: ‘In this story, you will encounter sensitive subjects such as death, mental illness, manipulation, suicide, abuse, paedophilia, incest, physical and psychological violence, rape, death, torture and prostitution.’
‘I felt like throwing up’
The author has deeply shocked readers and crossed the boundaries of what is acceptable, according to numerous comments on sales platforms and content posted on social media mentioning the novel. ‘This author romanticises the rape of infants. This is not prevention but a collection for paedophiles and the mentally ill. The excerpts I read traumatised me so much because they were so detailed and violent, I felt like vomiting,’ shared one of the readers.
‘It's shameful that someone could write such scenes! I cried when I read the excerpts on social media. We fight against rape and abuse of any kind. The author has children herself, how could she imagine such a thing?’ wrote one internet user who had access to a few pages of the novel shared on TikTok.
Calling for its immediate removal from online retailers, where it is available for €25, a petition has been launched on Change.org and has since gathered more than 18,000 signatures [now 31,000]. ‘Jessie Auryann's book Corps à Cœur crosses an ethical and legal red line that requires immediate action,’ reads the online petition platform.
"The book contains descriptions and scenes that directly conflict with French law. Article 227-23 of the Penal Code: the law severely punishes the dissemination of any pornographic representation of minors. The use of fiction to normalise or eroticise relationships involving minors constitutes a serious breach of public order," states the petition launched on Sunday 22 February.
Despite widespread criticism, the author nevertheless enjoys some support, particularly on her Facebook page.
Here's what she posted:
Attached is an excerpt in French found on Xitter that I will not translate. It narrates the rape of a baby. It is very blunt and unambiguous.
The book has since been heavily criticised on Amazon, where more excerpts have been shared.
Btw:
